Van Loan defends cost of Forces insignia revamp

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Peter Van Loan and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Steven Blaney held a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 19, 2014, to make a statement on the Government’s legislative accomplishments. iPolitics/Matthew Usherwood

House leader Peter Van Loan defended the federal government’s decision to spend $4.5 million on changing the military’s insignia Thursday, saying military heritage is an important part of Canadian history.

“Canadians have a proud history of, a kind of humanitarian approach in our military commitments, one where we aren’t simply fighting to defend our own shores but fighting to deliver freedom and democracy for people around the world,” he said.

According to the CBC, the government’s decision to return to pre-Unification insignia and ranks will cost a total of $4.5 million – $1.35 million to change the rank